15 Adventure Novels with Romance

Love is the greatest adventure, after all

Photo by Edoardo Busti on Unsplash

Whether it’s surviving in the wilderness, exploring a new planet, going on a quest to break a curse, or searching for lost treasure, one of my personal favorite pairings with romance is adventure. It’s like peanut butter and jelly. No, better than that — peanut butter and chocolate. Both great on their own, even better together.

It was really hard to narrow these down, so I tried to give preference to stories with some kind of quest, journey, or survival element to the story. I’ve also tried to give preference to indie authors and/or books currently available on Kindle Unlimited, with some exceptions of books I absolutely love. Lastly, I chose a combination of genres that include adventurous elements, including historical, fantasy, sci-fi, and rom-com.

All that said — I know I’ve likely left several great recs off my list! Tell me what your favorites are in the comments. I’m always looking for more adventure!

1. **Warrior by Zoe Archer** — Wow, wow, wow, do I love this book. This is peak adventure romance for me, with strong and smart main characters with genuine chemistry, a new world to explore, a unique setting (Outer Mongolia), and a unique magic system that feels like a fantasy/steampunk/sci-fi hybrid. As an added bonus, it’s the first in a series!

2. **The Other Guy’s Bride by Connie Brockway**

Fun fact about me — if there’s an adventure romance set in Egypt, I want to read it. (I 100% attribute this to my undying love for The Mummy movie franchise.) This historical story follows a determined woman archeologist who trades places with a woman so she can get an escort across the Egyptian desert. The problem is, she falls in love with her escort, who also falls in love with her, but believes he’s taking her to her fiance. Chaos ensues. Wonderful chaos.

3. **The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton**

Did I buy this book because it was described as Indiana Jones with parasols? Yes, I unashamedly did. How to describe this book? It takes place in a world where magic is normalized, including exotic and sometimes dangerous birds with superpowers, and there are bonkers academics who are fighting each other and putting themselves into ridiculous situations and falling in love. I highly, highly recommend. Also the start to a series!

4. **Secrets and Smugglers by Jess Saysell**

This story is by newbie author and follows the unconventional Waverley, who is always on the outskirts with her village, and the fierce and protective Freddy, who is guarding many secrets. It’s unclear if this one is a standalone or a start to a series, but it is available on Kindle Unlimited!

5. **Swallowed by Meg Smitherman**

Boy, do I love me a good genre mashup, and Meg Smitherman writes them extremely well. Swallowed is a standalone novel that’s part sci-fi, part survival novel, part romance, and written with urgent, lyrical prose that makes for a quick, punchy, and powerful read. Free on Kindle Unlimited!

6. **An Island Strange and Wild by Lisa Amowitz**

This series starter (!) is advertised as a romantic fantasy retelling of The Secret Garden. I am seated and ready to read! Young science prodigy Rosalie meets the enigmatic island boy Liam, who has a magical green thumb (yay!) but is also under a terrible curse (oh no). Rosalie must save both the boy and the island she’s fallen in love with by using her own newfound magic. Available on Kindle Unlimited!

7. **Secrets of the Sand & Sea by Clara Sutton**

What’s that, you say? Another book about archeologists? Admittedly, I have a book type, but in my defense, it’s not my fault they’re all so good. When Etta gains possession of a mysterious artifact, she must rely on handsome thief Edmond to guide her on a treasure hunt through Egypt. Another first in a series, available in Kindle Unlimited!

8. **Of the Stars and the Sea by Brianna Remus**

Pirates? Yes, please. Lady pirates? Hell yeah! Two pirates search for treasure while taking each other captive, bickering, and pretending they aren’t falling in love. (Come on, you two idiots. We aren’t buying it.) But you SHOULD buy the book, also part of a series and available on Kindle Unlimited!

9. **Lore of the Wilds by Analeigh Sbrana**

This one was love at first sight of the cover for me. This romantasy has a quest, a magical library, a spicy love triangle, and is the first in a series! With swoony romance and a solid magic system, this story leans into the adventure, and is available on Kindle Unlimited!

**10. What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez**

This novel is pitched as The Mummy meets Death on the Nile. Come on, just take my money already. When Inez’s adventurous parents die abroad, she travels to Egypt to find answers and ends up finding adventure and romance along the way. I confess, this one is still in my TBR, but I’m moving it to the top, I promise! Available on Kindle Unlimited.

**11. Happy Trail by Daisy Prescott**

Hey, one that doesn’t take place in Egypt! ;) When Olive gets dumped on a multi-month hike through the Great Smoky Mountains, she vows to finish on her own, with no help from anyone. Cue handsome park ranger Jay, who refuses to leave her on her own. This contemporary rom com is full of wit and unexpected depth, with a dash of a snowstorm and just one cabin. Free on Kindle Unlimited!

12. **Guarded Treasure by Mae Lovette**

You know what? I will make no apologies for the gratuitous amount of Mummy-inspired books, especially when they’re this funny and clever and full of sparkling banter and spice. So far as I know, this is a standalone book and a true breakout BookTok hit, though I was one of the cool kids to find it first. ;) Available on Kindle Unlimited!

13. **Empire of Shadows by Jacquelyn Benson**

I don’t want to take flak from anybody on this one — it’s set in Columbia, not Egypt. This adventure romance with a saucy archeologist heroine one has a secret society, a lost treasure map, and a snake-rangling MMC. Plus it’s the first in the series, and the covers and character art GORGEOUS!

14. **The Princess Bride by William Golding**

I mean, come on, only one of the greatest books of all time, with one of the greatest movies made out of it. I know the novel is a little more cynical about the love story than the film, but this is a story full of humor and heart and unforgettable characters, and I still get to read about Westley saying “As you wish” and imagining Cary Elwes, so. Win.

And last but not least…

My own book! Surprisingly, with no archeologists in it and NOT set in Egypt.

15. **Down to Ursa by Lissa Sharpe**

Part sci-fi romance, part adventure story, part bonkers comedy, this book follows mycologist Mina as she travels to an abandoned Earth for a research expedition. Planning to escape from the fiance who’s planning to murder her by disappearing into the wilderness, Mina’s plans are thwarted when she meets a man who’s been surviving on his own in the wild…and who is determined to make her his own.